OREANDA-NEWS. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered Belarus’ 2013 GDP growth forecast by 1.3 percentage points, bringing it down to 2.1%.

According to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook, Belarus’ GDP will grow 2.6% in 2014 and 3.6% in 2018.

The 2013 inflation rate forecast (December to December) has been decreased from 29.8% to 16.8%. In 2014 the IMF expects Belarus’ inflation rate to reach 18.8%.

The forecast for the current account deficit in 2013 stands at 5.2% of the GDP against 2.9% of the GDP in 2012. The forecast for 2014 is 5.5% of the GDP.

Belarus’ unemployment rate is expected to stay unchanged throughout 2013-2014 at 0.6%.

As formerly reported, Belarus’ official forecast for the growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013 is set at 8.5%, while the maximum inflation rate is set at 12%.